November 15, 2022
The PSD November Spotlight is Meredith Davis, media relations manager for the Physical Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. She began at UChicago in November 2021. We interviewed her about her interests and experiences below.
Where are you from?
West Suburban Chicago—I grew up in a little suburb named Broadview, Illinois, but now I live just ten minutes away from there, in Oak Park.
What do you enjoy about being a part of the PSD community?
I’ve only been with the University for a year and each person I’ve met and worked on an assignment or project with has been welcoming and kind.
Tell us a bit about you.
Professionally, I have a journalism background as a former Reuters News reporter. I worked in corporate communications prior to transitioning into higher education communications.
In my personal time, I used to be an avid reader but looking at computers all day makes my eyes tired, so I’ve fallen in love with Audible in recent years. When the book has a good narrator, it makes the commute fly by. I still love real paper books though.
Who inspires you?
My former manager, Derrell Carter. A big proponent of education, both academic and professional, he championed going back to school, but also advised his team to stretch and learn on the job to propel careers forward. Once he told me, “Learn something in your current role that you didn’t know in prior roles, so you can use it in your next role.”
What is the most interesting thing that you are working on right now?
Every assignment I get from PSD is interesting. I know it sounds cliché, but I learn something new every day.
Who had the most influence on you growing up?
My mom. The only things she asked of me growing up were to try my best and don’t give up when things get tough.
What three words best describe you?
Boymom, only child, curious
If they made a movie about your life, what genre would it be and who would play you?
A coming-of-age story featuring Sanaa Lathan.